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Computer Ethics & Social Issues

Computer Ethics & Social Issues. Overview of Ethics. Ethics vs Morals. Ethics Right vs Wrong behavior as modeled by societal norms “almost universal” ??? Defined by a group – nation, organization, profession, etc. Morals Right vs Wrong beliefs as defined by the individual.

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Computer Ethics & Social Issues

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  1. Computer Ethics & Social Issues Overview of Ethics

  2. Ethics vs Morals • Ethics • Right vs Wrong behavior as modeled by societal norms • “almost universal” ??? • Defined by a group – nation, organization, profession, etc. • Morals • Right vs Wrong beliefs as defined by the individual

  3. An Ethical Dilemma • Example: • “The Trolley Problem” • Train travels down a track and will hit a group of 5 people, causing certain death. • You have the ability to flip a switch, diverting the train to another track where only 1 person will die. • Flip the switch??

  4. An Ethical Dilemma • Example (cont.) • Same Trolley, but… • Suppose you are standing on a bridge over the same track with the same 5 people facing certain death. • You have no switch, but you are standing next to an extremely fat man whose bulk alone could stop the train would stop the train if you pushed him down onto the track. • Sacrifice the Fat Man??

  5. Evils of Morality • It is wrong to choose to not send the Fat Man to his death! • Why?? • Not because you are wrong about whether or not to kill people to save others, but because you are being inconsistentabout your killing decisions. • A bug in the program?

  6. A Moral Play • The Evil Fat Man • He is the one who put the other 5 people in danger. Pushing him to his death stops the train and saves 5 lives. • Push the Evil Fat Man?? • Why? To save lives, or to rid the world of an agent of evil? • Are Good and Evil objective or subjective concepts??

  7. Law • System of rules that tells us what we can and cannot do. • Enforced by authority figures who exercise lethal force. • Maintained through a system of corrective incarceration. • Many immoral acts are proclaimed lawful. • Why?? Example??

  8. Corporate Ethics • Ever worked at Wal-Mart? • Guiding Principles: • Always act with integrity; Lead with integrity, and expect others to work with integrity; Follow the law at all times; Reveal and report all information truthfully, without manipulation or misrepresentation; Work, actions, and relationships outside of your position with the company should be free of any conflicts of interest; etc., etc., etc. • Source: http://goo.gl/0bycvd

  9. Why Corporate Ethics? • STEP ONE: Good Ethics • STEP TWO: Good Business • STEP THREE: PROFIT!!! • Good ethics may help to prevent unfavorable publicity (scandal), bad business results, and/or legal action

  10. Git Me Summa Dat Ethics • Appoint a Corporate Ethics Officer • Have Board of Directors approve ethics standards • Establish corporate code of ethics • ~~Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002~~ • Conduct Social Audits • Ethics training for employees • Include ethical criteria in performance evals

  11. Four Common Ethical Approaches • Virtue Ethics Approach • We all believe we do the Good Thing™ • Utilitarian Approach • We do More Good than Harm • Fairness Approach • No one is left behind, regardless • Common Ground Approach • We all believe we are advancing the common good

  12. Questions • What is an Ethical decision? • What is a Moral decision? • How does this apply to your studies? • How does this apply to business? • Are you an Ethical person? Moral? Both or neither?

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